Get ready for the sounds of clinking glasses, crunchy snow underfoot and the satisfying swoosh of ski edges digging into fresh corduroy. November sees us celebrating food and drink at Whistler Cornucopia events that happen throughout the month. Keen skiers and boarders are getting their squats in, checking their gear and keeping their eyes on Whistler’s webcams, raring to go for Whistler Blackcomb’s opening day, November 23 (conditions dependent). Make sure you lock in those ski days now to get the best deals on lift passes.
More film announcements keep being made for the Whistler Film Festival, which starts November 29. May December, staring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore is making its English Canadian Premiere, The Burning Season is having its World Premiere and American Fiction is having its Western Canadian Premiere. It’s also the time of year when Whistler’s magical, festive lights start to glow.
Outdoor Adventure
You’ll find us:
- Tackling the Ridge Runner ATV tour on Blackcomb Mountain with Canadian Wilderness Adventures before they switch out the tires for tracks. Depending on the weather, November might see them shift to snowmobile and snowshoe tours, or a unique combination of the two!
- Choosing our own adventure on November 12 at Cornucopia’s With a Twist: Silent Disco. You’re given headphones to select your tunes while you peruse the drinks stations (five drink tokens are included with your $35 ticket). Another party-focused option is Slopeside Shenanigans on November 15, with different music acts and drink stations (your $30 ticket includes two drink tickets).
- Braving the seasonal rain (we are in a coastal rainforest) and heading out to some of the lower valley hikes we love like Lost Lake, Cheakamus Lake, and Train Wreck. Check out our Tips for When it Drips. If snow is on the ground, consider opting for shoes with good grip, or adding traction with Yaktrax.
- Making sure we’re ready for Whistler Blackcomb’s opening day on Thursday, November 23 (subject to change). Take a read of our Insider’s Guide on Tuning Up for the Winter Season, which gives you a run down on what you might want to get and check before you head up the hill. Also, looking at taking any courses and tours that will progress our skills, like an Avalanche Skills Training course.
Adventure Lite
You’ll find us:
- Trying something new at one of Cornucopia’s drink seminars. It’s the perfect opportunity to get out of your comfort zone drink-wise and find some new favourites. Whether you focus on a specific wine varietal, hone in on one region or country, or opt to try spirits like cognac and tequila, there are 38 seminars to choose from.
- Cheering on the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton athletes as they train at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Witness these athletes on the fastest track in the world getting ready for their winter competitions. Spectating is free, check their This Week on Track page to see when the best days and times are to visit.
- Throwing some axes at the Winter Splinter event at the Whistler Racket Club on November 16. Your ticket includes a brew from North Point Brewing, soup/stew and bonfire s’mores while you try your hand at some games with a Canadian winter twist.
- Join Whistler Naturalists on their monthly bird walk (the first Saturday of every month), which leaves from the bottom of Lorimer Road (close to Our Lady of the Mountains). Or, opt for a self-guided tour using the free, Go Whistler Tours app and choose one of the curated routes that take you all over the Whistler Valley.
More ways to get outside.
Family Fun
You’ll find us:
- Whizzing around Blackcomb Mountain on an off-road, family buggy tour. Skillful guides help you navigate cruisy, mountain paths as you explore, taking in the stunning vistas as you go.
- Dropping off the kids/teens to the Discover Luge happening Nov 5 and 20 for kids aged 8 to 14, and Discover Skeleton for ages 14+ on November 12 at the Whistler Olympic Sliding Centre. Athletes receive an introduction to sliding sports and on-ice sliding instruction.
- Getting the kids inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit on show at the young artists’ annual craft fair, Bratz Biz. It’s being held during the Arts Whistler Holiday Market at the Westin Resort and Spa on November 25 and 26 from 10 AM to 5 PM.
More family-friendly activities.
Arts & Culture
You’ll find us:
- Heading down the red carpet at the Whistler Film Festival, which kicks off November 29 with 40 feature films and six short film programs including Oscar contenders, breakthrough Canadian titles, adventure films and award-winning international films.
- Thinking about the female gaze while exploring Karin Bubaš’s striking photography exhibit Garden of Shadows at the Audain Art Museum. On November 25, the Audain will also be opening a new exhibit by legendary Canadian artist Gathie Falk. Designed to showcase the range of mediums this artist has mastered it features more than 90 works including ceramic and bronze sculpture, acrylic and oil on canvas painting, photography and video, as well as multi-media installation.
- Enjoying a pint of craft beer while perusing the work of local artists at the Beacon Art Walk on November 2.
- Bringing on the winter stoke by catching a few ski moves including Teton Gravity Research’s Flying High Again at the Maury Young Arts Centre on November 10, Legend Has It at The North Face Store on November 15 and Warren Miller’s ALL TIME at the Rainbow Theatre on November 23.
- Listening to the sounds of the Victoria Guitar Trio, one of Canada’s leading classical guitar ensembles, on November 19 at the Maury Young Arts Centre, presented by the Whistler Chamber Music Society.
Eating, Drinking & Shopping
You’ll find us:
- Trying some of the wines being poured from 50 international and regional wineries at Cornucopia’s CRUSH Grand Tasting event on November 11 and then broadening our drinking varietals at POURED happening the following Saturday, November 18. At the latter, you can sample craft beers, cocktails, spirits and wine. For more on this year’s festival read our dedicated blog and take advantage of the great deals on tickets when you book with accommodation through Whistler.com.
- Indulging in the fall dining deals which typically wrap up by the middle of November. Take a look at Araxi, Wild Blue, Bearfoot, Brickworks, Il Caminetto, the list goes on!
- Trying a tonka bean matcha croissant and Gruyère quiche at the new Alpha Cafe, run by the Alta Bistro team (and located right next door).
- Christmas shopping at the Arts Whistler Holiday Market at the Westin Resort and Spa on November 25 and 26. Packed with talented local artisans and producers, this is where you can get that stocking filled.
- Pampering our bodies at a Whistler spa. Our skin tends to get dry at this time of year when it’s buffeted by the cold outside and then the heat when you come inside, so give it some TLC.
- Getting cozy with a pumpkin-spiced latte at a local coffee shop. Take a read of our Insider’s Guide to Whistler’s Coffee Shops and choose your java spot.
More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.
Save The Date
Eberspächer Luge World Cup Whistler | December 15 – 16
Whistler Pride & Ski Festival | January 21 – 28
Be a Responsible Traveller: Don’t Love It to Death
- Whistler is bear country. Take a read of our Bear Aware blog post so you can act responsibly on behalf of these beautiful, wild creatures. Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear.
- Help keep Whistler green by choosing tap water over bottled water, avoiding single-use plastics, leaving the car at home, choosing active transportation and sorting garbage properly to reduce your waste.
- Be AdventureSmart and always practice Leave No Trace principles.
- Consider our Responsible Travel pillars, Respect Nature, Think Environment, Don’t Love It to Death and Support Local.
- Whistler Alert is the official emergency notification system used by the RMOW to communicate with residents and visitors during emergencies via text message, phone and email. We encourage you to sign up for it while you’re here (just in case). When you register, you will be asked to provide your contact number and the date you plan to leave Whistler so that you don’t receive alerts when you’re back home.
Travel Updates
All travel restrictions have been removed for US and international visitors entering Canada. Visit whistler.com/covid for the latest COVID-19 information and resources for travellers.
If You’re Driving . . .
- Take a read of Go Car Free: 8 Reasons to Ditch the Car on Your Whistler Trip in case we can convince you that you don’t need your car!
- Winter tires or chains are required on the Sea to Sky Highway from now until March 31. Make sure to check you have these, especially if you’re using a rental car. Read more on our Road Conditions page.
- Help reduce congestion on the highway by travelling during non-peak times. Peak travel times on the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler include Friday afternoons and evenings, weekends and holidays. To avoid this busy time, plan to visit Whistler midweek when the highway and the resort are typically quieter. Extend your weekend – plan to arrive on Thursday night and leave on Monday morning to avoid the weekend traffic. If you’re visiting Whistler only for the day, plan on staying for dinner to avoid the rush of day traffic leaving the resort after the mountain closes.
- Always check DriveBC for current road conditions before getting on the road. Follow @DriveBC on Twitter and listen to MountainFM for the latest updates.
- Paid parking is in effect in all the Day Lots although there is complimentary parking from 5 PM to 8 AM. Overnight parking is now allowed in the Day Lots, but no overnight camping or sleeping in vehicles. Please check the RMOW website for more information on parking.
- Marketplace parking has new tariffs; $1 first 30 minutes and $2 first hour (15-minute, storefront parking remains free). For shopping at Fresh St. Market, register your license plate in the machine prior to shopping and they will reimburse you for 1 hour with a minimum $25 purchase.
Book your winter trip now to secure up to 25% off lodging and 33% off rentals. Thinking about spring skiing? Receive a $75 après voucher for every third night booked.
Come experience Whistler Blackcomb’s extensive terrain and adventure at every turn to see why we're known as one of the best resorts on the planet. Secure your mountain getaway with Whistler.com for personalized service and the local knowledge of our Whistler-based team. Want to win a winter trip for two to Whistler? Check out our Drop In to Winter contest.
